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| The Philosophical Outlook | | Understanding Private Property through the Russian invasion into Ukraine | | Sanjeev Sikri
I woke up on the 24th of February, 2022 to the news of Russia launching military operations on Ukrainian land. The news channels across the spectrum displaying horrific visuals of mushrooming dust clouds instigated by the Russian military. One paramount reason for the attack or for any attack ever by one kingdom over another has been the expansion of land as property. As old has Alexander the Great’s vision to conquer the world in 4th century BC or the comparatively recent British Empire’s colonial escapades. Apart from the harm on humanity showcased, being a citizen of a state the second inherent vice is the act of acquiring another citizen’s private property through unjust means. This act made me recall the libertarian idea of ‘private property’ which has been the root of the formation of a state or government in the first place.
In the context of India, Article 21 of the constitution is perhaps the fundamental right with the most widespread implications. Ranging from the right to sleep to the right to choose a partner to marry to the right to travel abroad. It is for brevity’s sake known as the right to life and personal liberty. The article itself was taken from the Government of India Act, 1935 which was formulated during the British Raj at the time when Lord Willingdon was the Viceroy of India.
The root of the philosophy of the libertarians however included three aspects- life, liberty and private property. In India the right to property ceased to be a fundamental right and became a constitutional right by the 44th constitutional amendment act, 1978.
John Locke, an English political philosopher in his Treatise on the Government explains that in the state of nature (i.e. the pre-state era or the time when a government did not exist as an authority, either as a patriarch of a tribe or a monarchy or a democracy.
There is no hierarchy and an absolute state of liberty), the people lived in the fear of having their life, liberty and private property encroached upon by fellow men. The purpose of establishing a state was to safeguard the natural rights of life, liberty and private property of its citizens.
These happen to be the key functions of a state. To the efficacy of governance and securing life, liberty and private property collective goods such as, courts, municipalities, hospitals, universities and militaries are created.
The definition of private property has been a matter of debate, for when one enters into a state as a citizen, they consent to the government’s definition of what includes private property.
Now given that every citizen enjoys life and liberty inherently, private property is a possession of a few and it is to secure this, that extended rules and laws have to be made. Private property arises because when we mix our labour with unowned things, we come to acquire a property right in those things. Reason being we own our labour because we are the proprietors of the person we are. For example a handcrafted diary gives its maker sole right of private property over it for investing their labour in it.
In 19th century Marxist Literature, the rise of the capitalistic society leads to the possession of more private property by the state in order to exert influence over the people.
Through the control of property, the state is capable of controlling its citizens. Reason being, property is the source of resources and by controlling the resources, the state becomes the supreme authority negating the sense of self proprietorship.
It is pointed out that the laborer does not acquire any property through their labour but the capital they earn only serves to exploit them further. For example, the same maker of the diary if were to be working in a factory of diaries, she would have no right over the property she created even though she invested her labour in it. These laborers are further exploited according to Marx because they surrender their labour power to the capitalists for a value less than they produce.
Coming back the second inherent vice of an outward attack on the land of a state. The purpose of the creation of a state is to protect the private property of the individual. At the same time not allow the supreme power (i.e. the monarch or legislature) to take away private property of the individual without their consent or in an arbitrary manner. In the case of foreign invasions from the Persian invasion of Greece in 492 BCE to the Russian invasion into Ukraine in 2022 CE, at the core of the conflict lies the usurping of the natural rights of not only life and personal liberty but also private property. The vice being worse in two ways, first that the state is unable to defend the natural rights of its citizens and secondly that the foreign invaders are fueling a barbarism like that of the state of nature (i.e. pre-political state) from which humanity has evolved into a well crafted civilization as we experience today.
Five Carbohydrate-Rich Foods To Eat For Muscle Growth Everyone must have heard, at least once in their weight loss journey, that carbohydrates are not good for weight loss. However, this is a myth that needs to be addressed now. Not all carbohydrates are bad carbs; some are really important for muscle growth.
When you start shedding the extra kilos, carbs help in building up the muscles to keep the skin tight. We have come up with a list of carbohydrates that you should include in your diet for muscle growth.
1. Banana
Banana is a complex fruit that includes water, fat, protein, fiber, starch, and sugar. A medium-sized banana is said to have approximately 27 grams of carbohydrates. However, it has resistant carbs which are easy to digest, thus giving us instant energy if eaten post or pre-workout.
2. Potatoes
When you are in the process of building muscles, you need to have foods that act in increasing the insulin level. One such food is mashed potatoes. Potatoes are not bad when eaten in limited quantities. One can include two to three cups of mashed potatoes in their diet daily as they are fast-acting carbs.
3. Pulses
While pulses are a great source of protein, they have carbs too. However, they are good carbs. It is advised to include pulses in your lunch as they are easy to digest and provide you various other nutrients too along with carbs.
4. Beans
Similarly like pulses, beans are also a rich source of protein and carbs. They are complex carbs that include fiber, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and iron. Various varieties like black beans or kidney beans help in muscle growth as it has dietary fiber which is not enough in your regular diet.
5. Nuts
Nuts like almonds, walnuts, peanuts, etc. have healthy carbs and healthy fats in them. They have carbs half of which come from fiber and as said earlier, fiber helps in building muscles. |
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